ALTOONA, Pa. – Penn State Altoona's office of Athletics Communication will feature an enhanced look this season, as the campus' NCAA Division III sports program continues to grow with the recent addition of several teams.

Penn State Altoona Athletics Communication will introduce a new position to the fold in 2025-26 while also extending an existing position into this upcoming year.

"Our NCAA program is fortunate to be in a position of growth," said Penn State Altoona Director of Athletics Communication Conner Gilbert. "As we continue to add new teams, it necessitates an expansion of sports information staff so that we can continue to provide coverage."

Penn State Altoona Athletics welcomes Alexis Weyandt as its new Athletics Communication Assistant. In this role, she will help with sports information coverage of the Lions' 18 NCAA teams.

Weyandt graduated from Mount Aloysius College in December 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a concentration in Communication Studies. With the Mounties, she assisted their sports information department through keeping stats, writing game recaps, and taking photos. Weyandt also held previous positions with EZtoUse as a social media coordinator, Pro Sports Fans as a sports media intern, and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce as an intern.

"I'm thrilled and grateful to join the Athletics Communication department at Penn State Altoona," said Weyandt. "I am excited to work alongside the coaches, staff, and student-athletes and contribute to the success of the department. I want to extend a huge thank you to Conner Gilbert and everyone involved in the hiring process."

Additionally, Penn State Altoona Athletics returns Mallorie Smith as its Digital Media Specialist for the 2025-26 year. Smith began this position as a senior at Ivyside in 2024, remained in the role following graduation, and will now continue this upcoming sports season.

Smith will continue to assist in generating the Athletics Communication office's digital media content, including crafting graphics for social media and the web. A standout soccer player at Penn State Altoona from 2020-24, Smith finished her playing career as the Lions' all-time leader in points (109) and goals (46) and graduated last December with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

"I'm super grateful to continue making graphics for Penn State Altoona and to keep being part of the Athletics department," Smith said. "I'm excited to bring in a mix of new and old designs to elevate our visual look for our programs."

Penn State Altoona's 2025-26 NCAA Division III sports season gets underway in approximately three weeks, led by fall sports kicking off on Friday, August 29.

"I am excited to welcome Alexis as our first-ever Athletics Communication Assistant. She will be of great assistance as we continue to expand our sport offerings. Her previous experience, sports knowledge, and eagerness to learn will put her in a position to succeed in this new role," Gilbert stated. "I am also very happy for Mallorie to remain in her role as Digital Media Specialist this year. She has been a huge asset in taking our creative content to the next level, and I look forward to her continuing to produce quality work for us this year."

For more information on Penn State Altoona's NCAA Division III athletics, visit www.psaltoonalions.com.